Metallic tie for track rails



April 23, 1946. J. H. KEITH 2,398,942

METALLIC TIE lFOR TRACK RAILS Filed .April 19, 1944 Patented Apr. 23, 1946 UNITED` STATES PATENTA OFFICE METALLIC TIE FOR TRACK RAILS James H. Keith, cleveland', ohio Application April 19, 1944, Serial No. 531,751

3 claims.A (01.2ses-pisar` This invention relates to track rail supporting and holding means and has for its general object to provide an improved metallic tie adapted to receive and support the meeting ends of longitudinally aligned track rails, the tie being provided with improvedv locking means for separably uniting the rails in secure relation with the tie, whereby to hold eiectively the rails in trackforming'order. Y

It is another object of the invention to provide a rail-holding tie adapted particularly for the support and uniting of rails used in forming extension, emergency or auxiliary trackways,` and wherein provision is made for quickly and securely uniting rails with the tie without involving the use of customary threaded bolts, nuts or spikes.

In coal mines, as well as in many other capacities, it is often necessary for tracks to be extended quickly to follow retreating mining faces. To expedite such an operation, it is inconvenient and too time-consuming to spike the rails to permanent wood ties and connecting the meeting ends of rail sections with the conventional iish plates, bolts and nuts.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a metallic tie especially adapted for the rapid laylng of extension tracks of the character indicated, the construction of the tie being such as to facilitate the operation of connecting track rails therewith in order that there need be but little delay in extending a given trackway to a desired working location.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a'metallic rail tie formed in accordance with the present invention; f

Fig. 2 is a similar View on a larger scale, with parts broken away and shown in horizontal cross section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line IIL-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. lis a perspective view of one of the inner y longitudinally extending and parallel flanges I2,

which are capable'rof exerting `a rm' grip on the floor of amine or tovoccupy a stable position in ballast when the latter is used. As a practical matter, I prefer to frmthe tie from rolled steel plate. The tie is adapted to be placed beneath conventionaltrack rails I3r and particularly beneath the meetingends of a pair of longitudinally aligned rails, in order to provide for the support of such rails' and'unite the same to the tie and with each other. To eiect this result, the upper surface of the tie is provided at each end there- 'of with rail-clamping'or fshplates I4 and I5, respectively, the `latter being stamped from steel plate having apprximately, the same thickness as the plate from ,which the tieris formed.

`Each 'of the outer plates I5 comprises a flat horizontally disposed body portion I6 positioned for longitudinal ac ijustmentA on the upper 'surface of the tie I0; To providejfor such adjustment, the body portion I6 is provided with headed pins or looserivets I1, the Shanks Aof whichare received in elongated slots I8 formed inthe body II of the tie I0. At its outer edge," each of the plates I5 is provided with a short upstanding liange I9, andatlthe ksides thereof with vertical anges 2Il,-thej inner edge portions ofthe latter terminating in'lugs2l, which are'receivable in openings `2 2, provided4 in splice bars 23. These bars span the meeting ends or faces of a pair of vthe rails I 3, and at their ends the bars 23 terminate in inwardly directed studs 211,v which are adapted to be positioned in the usual bolt openings 25 formed in the vertical webs 26 of the rails I3, the 'splice bars serving to prevent undue longitudinal separation of an aligned and adjoining pair of rails. Y

Riveted for turningV movement about vertical axes provided by rivets 21 carried by the outer ends of the tie I0 are turnable securing cleats 28. These cleats are alsoformed from stamped metallicplate and eachof the cleats has its ends upwardly and angularly directed as at 29 for engagement with the angesY I 9 ofthe plates I5, the

upturned'endsV 29 of ls'aidclea'tsfbelng arcuate in plan.` Itiwill'be seen that when the splice bar 23 is positioned in the openings 25 of-the rails I3, and the outer plate I5 moved longitudinally of the tie so that its lugs 2| are positioned in the openings 22, these parts may be locked invtheir rail fastening positions by turning the cleats 28,

usually eiected by a hammer or sledge, until a rm union is secured.

Likewise, the inner clamping or fish .plates are each formed to provide a plate-like body 30 which,

contiguous to the rails I3, has an integral offset extension 3l shaped to engage and lap over the base flange 32 of said rails as well as engage the inner surfaces of the Webs 26 thereof. At the juncture of the body 3D with the extension 3|, there is formed a shoulder 33 adapted for position maintaining engagement with the inner vertical edge of the base ilange of the associated rail or rails. Similar engagement is maintained between the outer edges of the base flanges of said rails and the inner edges of the -body portion 'i6 of the plates I5.

The inner of the plates I4 have their body portions 30 provided with depending rivets 34 whose Shanks are loosely positioned for sliding movement in slots 35 formed in the tie body 'I I. To maintain the extensions 3l of the inner-plates in desired holding engagement with the rails I3, each of the plates I4 has its inner end terminated in anupstanding lip 36 with `which isengaged a turnable cleat 31 riveted, as at 38, to the tie body Il. By rotating thecleat so that itis longitudina'lly aligned with .its complemental plate I4, as in Fig. .2, the same Willserve to hold the asso` ciated plate innrm position-maintaining engagement with the track rails.

It will thusbe -apparent'th'at the present .invention provides a tie Lparticularly useful in the the base flanges and vertical Webs of the track rails, said outer plates having position-maintaining engagement with the base flanges of said rails and having vertical side ilanges terminating in inwardly and horizontally proj ecting lugs, a splice bar spanning the meeting faces of a pair of said track rails and formed at its ends with laterally and inwardly directed studs receivable in bolt openings provided in the vertical webs of the adjusting rails, saidy bar being provided withspaced sockets for the reception of the outer plate lugs, and turnable cleats mounted on the upper s1ufaces of said tie and movable into engagement with the lends of said plates to maintain the latter in positive fastening and holding engagement with said rails.

2. Splice meansrfor uniting the meeting ends of a pair of track rails comprising a tie adapted extension of track `rails to various working locations, as in coal-mining operations. In coal mining, considerable use is .made of track-mounted machines, such` as coal-cutting and loadingmachines. As the working face of a coal seam recedes through mining operations, it is necessary to advance the trackway proportionately, so that the machines may be terminated in proper relation to the working face.

With the use o'f the tie forming Ythe present invention, extension 'tracks may be quickly laid, and thismay be done without the use of threaded fastening members. It frequently happens that such extension trackwaysrarercovered with Water, and my improved tie has'been constructed so .that rails may be readily secured therewith even under such adverse conditions, it merely being necessary to rotate the holding orflocking cleats shown at 28 and 31. Furthermore, `the construction pr vides for proper electrical binding between adjacent rail sections, as many miningmachines .are electricallyrdriven and utilize the track rails as returnfconductors. It will be notedl that the construction of my improved tie is essentiallysimple and may be produced 4from materials which are generally available atmining sites, enabling repairs and replacements, when needed,to be readily furnished. t

I claim:

.1. Rail-holding means for extension trackways, comprising a metallic tie having down-turned side franges and a flat upper surface for the reception o'f the base 'flanges of track rails, .arpair of inner and` outer rail-clamping plates slidably secured tosaid tie at each 'end thereof forlimited longitudinal adjustment, saidnner `plates being each formed with offset extensions shaped to engage to be placed beneath the meeting ends of a pair of such rails, an outer rail-clamping plate slidably mounted vfor limited longitudinal adjustment on the upper surface of said tie, said plate having position-maintaining engagement with the base iianges of said rails and being formed with vertical side anges which terminate in inwardlyand horizontally projecting lugs, a splice bar spanning the meeting faces of said track rails, said bar be'- ing formed at its ends with laterallyand inwardly directed studs receivable in bolt openings provided in the vertical Webs of the adjoining rails, said bar being provided with spaced sockets for the reception of the plate lugs, and turnable cleats mounted on the upper surface of said tie and movable into and outof engagement with the outerend of said plate to maintain and withdraw the latter from holding engagement with said rails and splice bar.

.3. Rail-holding means for extension trackways comprising a metallic tie having a flat upper surface for the reception of the base anges of track rails, a pair of inner and outer metallic railclamping plates positioned on the upper surface of said tie at each end thereof, fastening elements carried by said plates having Shanks slidably positioned in slots provided longitudinally in said tie, said inner plates being formed with oiset extensions shaped to engage the base flange of said rails, said outer plates having edge engagement with the base flanges of said rails, said outer plates embodying vertical side anges terminating in inwardly and horizontally projecting lugs, splice bars spanning the meeting faces of adjoining track rails and formed at the ends thereof with laterally and inwardly directed studs receivable in bolt openings provided in the vertical webs of adjoiningv rails, said bars being formed with spaced sockets for thereception of the plate lugs, and pivoted cleats mounted on the upper surfaces of said tie, said cleats being movable into and out of engagement with the ends of said plates to maintain and remove the latter in and from positions of holding engagement with said rails. t

JAMES H, KEITH. 

